Australian Women's Amateur

20 - 25 January 2015

The Australian Golf Club, NSW

The Lakes Golf Club, NSW

Click here to view the full Championship History, Honour Roll and Past Results

The Australian Women's Amateur Championship is contested over 36-holes stroke play qualifying, with the leading 32 players progressing to elimination match play. It is open to players of all ages with an initial field size of 72 players. It was first played in 1894 and past winners include touring professionals Nikki Campbell, Sarah Oh and Kristie Smith.

News

Sydney schoolgirl Shelly Shin has capped an incredible year to become the women’s Australian Amateur champion.

Shin, 16, a member of the white-hot Golf Australia national squad, toppled home-course hero Lizzie Elmassian at The Australian to win the 36-hole final convincingly 8-&-7 in sweltering conditions.

Shin, a member at Sydney’s Concord Golf Club, was 2-up after the morning round, but came out after the break and dominated with four birdies in the next six holes to take a stranglehold on the title, eventually winning on the 29th hole with a par.

“I birdied the first two holes (in the afternoon) and … was four under after six holes,” the modest Shin said.

“I thought I was going pretty good, I just had to keep it going … and managed to do it.

“It feels really good to have won this tournament – it’s the biggest tournament I’ve won.”

The win books Shin a berth in the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne next month.

And ominously for the field, it appears Shin’s confidence and game are growing simultaneously.

“There’s still room for improvement,” she said.

It’s already been an incredibly successful 12 months for Shin, who won the Riversdale Cup and Queensland Amateur titles last year before being a member of the triumphant Australian unit at the World Teams Championship in Japan in September, alongside now professionals Minjee Lee and Su-hyun Oh.

Shin won the Lake Macquarie Amateur championship in a cakewalk earlier this month, then lead Australia to just its fifth win in the time-honoured Astor Trophy in Adelaide last week with a far less experienced team surrounding her.

Golf Australia high performance director Brad James said Shin was beginning to fulfill her enormous potential.

“She knows how to win –and it’s great to see her do it on such a great golf course,” James said.

“Her ability to play on these tough courses and to show she can win in tough conditions against a quality field like that is even more special,” James said.

Elmassian was enormous throughout the week, taking out several big-name opponents and began the final with a bang by making birdie on the first.

But she was unable to maintain the consistency of her opponent and despite several outstanding shots and sporadic birdies, was slowly worn down by her fellow Sydneysider in another outstanding result for Golf New South Wales.

Entry Details:Golf Australia received an 106 entries for the 2015 Australian Women’s Amateur Championship. The maximum field size for the event was 72 however the Championship Play Committee has made the decision to increase the field size to 78 players. Unfortunately this means 28 players have been balloted out. Players on a handicap of 1.3 and above (not otherwise exempt by categories in Section 6 of the Conditions of Play) were balloted out.

Golf Australia certainly did not anticipate such an overwhelming number of entries for the Australian Women’s Amateur. In past years we have only just obtained a full field, with this year’s handicap limit set based on last year’s field.

Those players who have been balloted out have been placed on the reserve list (in order) and will have the opportunity to play should withdrawals occur. We will assume these players wish to remain on the reserve list unless we hear otherwise, and we will contact players should withdrawals occur.

Players who do not gain entry into the event will receive a full refund of their entry fee. Please contact championships@golf.org.au if you have any queries.

> Click here. to download the final field.Document updated immediately following any withdrawals to the main field.> Click here to view the Conditions of Play> Click here to view local services.> Click here to download competitor information.

Results & Draws:All results and draws will be posted at www.golf.org.au. The Qualifying Rounds draw will be available after 5.30 pm on Monday 19 January. If players are traveling together and would like similar tee times, this must be advised to Golf Australia no later than 5 January via phone +61 3 9626 5050 or championships@golf.org.au. Requests after this time will NOT be accommodated.

Practice:Players are entitled to ONE complimentary practice round on each course ONLY. Play must be from the daily tee markers only.

Practice rounds are available at the following times:> The Lakes Golf Club: From 6.30 am – 3.00 pm on Sunday 18 January> The Australian Golf Club: From 7.00 am – 3.00 pm on Monday 19 JanuaryAny player who arrives at either club outside of these times will be asked to leave.

Players MUST contact Golf Australia to make a booking for the official practice rounds: phone +61 3 9626 5050 or championships@golf.org.au. On booking a round, players must provide the names of all players if they are booking on behalf of other players (e.g. a player cannot book themselves in four times).

>Update to practice round bookings:Due to overwhelming and excessive requests for practice rounds on Sunday 18thth, Golf Australia will be offering additional tee times for 9 holes only, off the 10th Tee. Players choosing to utilize these tee times will also have full access to practice facilities as well as the option to walk the first 9 providing they do not interfere with playing groups.

During a practice round a player may play one ball only throughout the round with the following exceptions:> If a player misses the fairway with their drive, they may play one additional tee shot from the tee;> If a player misses the green with their approach shot, they may play one additional shot to the green;> Not more than three chip shots may be played from beside the green, and only then provided such practice shots do not damage the course;> Only two bunker shots may be played towards the green from a greeenside bunker. All other bunker shots must be played away from the green;> Only three practice putts are permitted.> Notwithstanding the above regulations, no additional practice strokes shall be played if the group behind is waiting to play. Additionally, course staff retain absolute right of way.

Competitors in breach of these practice conditions are liable to face action under Golf Australia’s Code of Conduct.

Practice Facilities:IMPORTANT: The practice facilities at the host venues are for warm up and cool down purposes only (i.e. not for players to remain at the course all day using the facilities). Additionally, drill putting is NOT permitted. Any player in breach of these conditions may be removed from the Championship.

A practice fairway is available at both clubs and competitors will receive complimentary practice balls during the practice round and championship rounds.

Range operating times at both clubs is 6.30 am to 5.00 pm.

> The Australian Golf Club: Range balls with be available at the driving range> The Lakes Golf Club: Coded tickets will be available from the Pro Shop to acquire range balls

Dress Regulations for Players AND Spectators:“Hard/Metal” spikes are not permitted. Players, caddies and spectators must adhere to dress which is neat, tidy and appropriate to the game. Jeans, track or leisure pants, and clothing, hats, caps, and visors with excessive slogans or advertising are not permitted.

Please note at The Australian Golf Club, Men with shorts must wear either long socks or short socks in plain white or Golf Club monogrammed.Anklet socks are not acceptable.

Players and spectators are reminded that they are guests of the clubs and failure to adhere to dress regulations may result in them being asked to change or purchase appropriate dress.

Tournament Functions:Sweet Sixteen Dinner: The Australian Golf Club; Friday 23 January; 7.00 pm – 8.30 pmIt is MANDATORY that the 8 men and 8 women contesting the Quarter-Finals attend a two-course dinner with officials and sponsors. Player dress: dress shirt and long pants (women equivalent).

Groove Condition: The following Condition will be in effect for the 2015 Australian Amateur:

The player’s clubs must conform to the groove and punch mark specifications in the Rules of Golf that are effective from January 1, 2010.

*PENALTY FOR CARRYING, BUT NOT MAKING STROKE WITH, CLUB OR CLUBS IN BREACH OF CONDITION:> Match play - At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round - Two holes.> Stroke play - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round - Four strokes.> Match or stroke play - In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

*Any club or clubs carried in breach of this condition must be declared out of play by the player to their opponent in match play or their marker or a fellow competitor in stroke play immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. If the player fails to do so, they are disqualified.PENALTY FOR MAKING STROKE WITH CLUB IN BREACH OF CONDITION:Disqualification.

Please note that Golf Australia will NOT be conducting field testing during the Australian Amateur Championship and players will need to resolve any questions about their clubs prior to arriving at the Championship.